Tithe Barn, Houghton Regis

The Tithe Barn was most probably built in the 14th or 15th century. Most churches in the Middle Ages had a tithe barn somewhere on Church land. In it was put all the offerings (known as tithes) that the villages brought to God at harvest time. Every villager had to give a tenth (tithe) of what he/she had grown or reared to the priest. This would be stored in the tithe barn until needed. Sometimes the priest kept the produce for himself, and sometimes it was given away to the poor of the parish. The Tithe Barn was demolished in 1964 to make way for the Bedford Square shopping centre.

List of sources at Bedfordshire Archives: 

• CA19/58/1-19: Tithe Barn:  External and interior views, c.1955
• CA19/59/1-9: Tithe Farm Estate: Views of Tithe Barn, c.1960
• PU19/1964: Photographs of Houghton Regis Tithe Barn interiors and exteriors prior to demolition, 1964